Semi-automatic compressed-air transport system.



' w. o. RENKIN. SEMI-AUTOMATIC CUMPRESSED AIR TRANSPORT SYST'EIVI.

APPLCATIN FILED JULY 29.1918. 1,301 ,167. Patented Apr. 22,1919.

L ,V VMM@ arroja/Wmo v W. 0. RENKIN.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC COMPRESSED AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM. APPucATloN FILED JULY 29.1918.

1,301, 167. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. 0. RENKIN. SEMI-AUTOMATIC COMPRESSED AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1918- l ,$01,167. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 I mm1/do@ l @Hoz y w.`0. RENKIN. l SEMI-AUTOMATIC COMPRESSED AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM. 1,301,167..

Patented Apr. 22, 1919l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1918- WILLIAM O.

RENKIN, OEV ORADELL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO QUIGLEY FURNACE SPECIALTIES CO., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC COMPRESSED-AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, Mitt).

Appiication aiedauiy as, 191s. serial No. 247,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLniaM O. RENKIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oradell, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semi-Automatic CompressedAir Transport Systems, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to systems for the transportation of lpowdered coal or other finely divided material from a supply center to various different local storage bins or other receptacles, and comprises an apparatus by which one person located at the supply center can operate the entire system from that point through the assistance of devices which are se1iii-auto1natic in action. The apparatus could also be used for handling liquids, but finds its most useful application to systems for powdcredcoal transportation from a main storage tank to a variety of separate consumption points, such as, for instance, is described in U. S. Patent No. 1,177,045, to Magarvey et a?, granted March as, laid.

lfnder existing commercial conditions the respective furnaces are apt to be run by operatives who cannot be relied on to watch their respective coal supplies and telephone in to the main station when, and how much, additional fuel supply is needed. Moreover .it is better and more economical to have the skilled operative who manipulates the transport-ation plant as a whole, attend tothe r lling of the different local bins at regular intervals so as to leave him free for other work at other times. rather than to hold him continually subject to the haphazard calls of the different furnace operatives for intermittent delivery of fuel to them. To this end I have invented the particular combinations of apparatus hereinafter described which are semi-automatic in their operation,that is to say the devices at each local bin can be set so as to connect that bin with the main supply conduit, and then the branch to that bin can be cut out by the central operator when his scales tell him that he has sent to that bin the amount of coal which his previous investigation has shown was needed there.

The best form of apparatus embodying in Fi my invention at present known to me is illustrated in the accompanying four sheets of drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the main blowing tank and one local bin connected thereto, together with the controllers supplied thereby to feed a given furnace, parts being broken away and others shown diagrammatically.

Fig. l is a similar view of two other local bins, constituting, with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, a complete system. y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation of one of the compressed air valves for controlling the coal supply switch valves at certain stations, and the operating connections therefor, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the valve shown and its connections.

Fig. i is an enlarged detail rea-r elevation of one of the coal supply switch valves and its operating motor. i

Fig. 5 is a plan view and horizontal section on the line of Fig. 4, and

Fig. G is a detail sectional view showing the air valve passages. l

Throughout the drawings like reference figures indicate like parts.

` In the general system to which my invention is usually applied, there is a blowing tank l, mounted on a balanced scale 2, and provided with flexible connections to all fixed portions of the system so that the operator can tell by the scale readings from time to time the amount of pulverized nia.- terial which he has discharged from this blowing tank or supply tank. The manipulation by which such graduated quantities of material are discharged is exercised through the control lever 3, and the compressed air valve 4, in the manner set forth in the pendlng application of Harry Arthur Kimber, Serial No. 214,755, filed January 3l. 1918. rIhe pulverized coal discharged from the supply tank l, passes out through the main line conduit 5, to various branch storage bins l0, 110, Q10, dac.. from which it is supplied through controllers 6. t3. operated by motors 7. 7. and belt and pulley connections 8, 8, to thc furnace or furnaces at the respective locations indicated. 6, are preferably of the construction shown The controllers (i,

and described in my pending applica-tion Serial No. 204,788, tiled November 30, 1917.

In systems of the general construction above described, as heretofore operated, each operator at a branch or local station has lthe position which would close the. main line conduit at that point and open the branch connection 12 or 112 to the local storage bin. The supply station operator would thereafter send the required amount of fuel through the main line of the system to the local bin in question and, when the Supply had been delivered, telephone the local operator to close his switch valve and reopen the main line connection. i

My present invention overcomes the delay and general awkwardness of the procedure above described by making the action of the switch valves semi-automatic and controllable by the supply operator at the supply station through some such combinations of elements as are herein described.

On the axis of each switch valve. as 11. is mounted a lever 13, which at one end carries contact points 14, coperating with stationary points 15, the whole constituting a eircuit controller for an electric circuit extending from the local station to the supply station. The other end of the lever 13, is connected to some motor device, as by means of the disk-shaped end 16, which extends into a slot in the trunk piston 17, of a pneumatic motor composed ot' the opposed stationary cylinders 18, 18. The trunk piston makes an air-tight joint connection with said cylinders by means of the outside stuffing boxes 19, 19. This pneumatic motor or4 switch valve reversing device is operated by a con- (itl troller comprising an air valve 20, having the curved passageways 20l and 20b shown in Fig. G of the drawings, which control the admission and exhaustion of compressed air or other motive Huid, to and from cylinders 18. 18. The fluid enters from compressed air pipe 9. through branches 2l, 121, &e., air valve 20. or 120, and air pipes 23 or 24, or 123 or 124, to either cylinder 18. and

thereafter passes back through said pipes and valves to an exhaust, as 21".

In the cas-v of storage bin 110, the samc appziiratus is a duplicate of that t'or storage bin 10, havingthe controller valve 120. pipes 123, 124, air motor or reversing device. coinposed of cylinders 113, 118, trunk piston 117, switch valve 111, lever 113, and electric contact points 114, 115.

l The supply station operator On the spindle 25er 125, of each controlling valve 20, or 120, as indicated in the enlarged detail views, Figs. 2 and 3 there 1s mounted a cut-away pulley, 26, or 126, to which a reti-acting spring, 27, or127, isattached, the other end of said spring *being connected to any convenient fixed point. A pull cord or chain, 28,01` 128, runs over the other side of each pulley and is connected at one end to said pulley, as indicated at 28", while the other end is allowed to hang pendant to point within easy reach of the local operator standing, on the fioor of the branch station. Also, on the spindle 25 or 125, of each valve there is fastened a brake drum, as shown at 29, around which extends a brake band 30, one end of which is connected to xed point or anchorage, as 31, while the other end is connected to the core of a solenoid, 32 or 132, supported in a stationary position by any convenient structure. One endot' the winding of the solenoid 32, is connected by one wire of circuit 33, through circuit breaker 14-15, telltale lamp 34, and manually operated circuit controller or switch 35, to 011e pole of any source of electric current supply conventionally represented by the battery 3G, while the other end is connected to the other pole of said source of current by another portion of said circuit 33.

In the same way each other motor controlling valve is operated by a pull cord, a tension spring. a solenoid, and an electric circuit, as 133, extending through the circuit breaker on its local switch valve to the-supply station'througli a telltale lamp, as 134, and manually operated circuit controller, as 135,there located, to a source of current su ply 36.

n each bin is ay coal gage composed of a weight. as 41, suspended in the interior of the bin by any convenient means such as chain or cord 38, extending up over a guide sheave, as 40, and then downward alongside a gage board such as 37, and carrying a pointer, such as 39, cooperating with said gage board. The corresponding parts for bin 110, are shown at 137, 138, 139, and 140, and for bin 210, at 237, 238, 239, 240 and 241.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: The operator of the supply station makes )eriodic trips around a circuit including all the branch storage and consuming stations and at each station he pulls down upon the pull cord 38. 138, or 238. until the weight 41, 141, or 241, is freed from the mass of pulverized coal contained in the storage bin at that station. llpon releasing theipull cord, the weight will then t'all back upon the surface ot the body oi coal and-the pointer 39, 139, or 239, will indicate on the orage the amount of coal in that bin. Knowing the capacity of the bin, the operator can then tell lthe amount ot asomar coal required to fill that bin and make note of the same. Hc next pulls down upon the cord or chain 28 or 128, which rotates the cut-away pulley 2G or 126, against the opposition of the spring 27 or 127, and turns the valve 20 or 12() in such position that the compressed air branch 21, is connected through the passage 20 to pipe 24, which admits compressed air to the lower cylinder 18, forces up the trunk piston and causes the local switch valve to close off the main line conduit 5, at that point and open the branch conduit, as 12, connecting the main line conduit with `the local bin. rThis is the posin tion of the controlling device shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The same operation causes the upper cylinder 18, to be connected through pipe 23, and valve passage 20", with the exhaust'opening 21a. It also closes the circuit breaker 14-15 and completes the circuit 33,`

from source of current 36, through solenoid 32, lamp 34, and manually operated circuit breaker 35, at the supply station (it being understood that the operator before starting outon his tour has closed all of the manually operated circuit breakers 35, 135, &c., at the supply station). rl`he energizing of the solenoid, as 32, of course causes it toput the brake band, as 30, under tension and it, in coperation withthe brake drum, 'as 29, holds the controlling valve 20, in the position last described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3, against the pull of the spring, as 28, .so long as the circuit 33, remains closed. The glowing of lamp 34, shows any observer at the supply station that the switch valve 11, is in position to connect branch conduit 12. The sending station operator having completed the circuit, set all the switch valves 11, 111, etc., in the posit-ion to connect their respective bins, and returned to the supply station, proceeds to lill the various local storage bins as follows: He first sends out through the main line conduit 5the-amount of coal required for the first storage bin 10, by manipulating the control lever 3, and air valve 4, on the supply tank 1. l/Vhenthe scale 2fshows that the necessary amount for the first storage'bin has been sent out, the operator pu-lls the corresponding lmanually operated circuit breaker 35, which opens Icircuit 33 and denergizes solenoid 32, releasing brake band 30, and permitting the spring 27, to reverse the control valve 20. Lampv 34 then goes out, showing that this branch circuit is denergized. This sends the compressed air from branch 21, through pipe 23, into the upper cylinder 18, and connects lthe lower cylinder 18` through pipe 24, with the exhaust opening 21a. This operates the pneumatic motor to perform a double function of shifting the switch valve 11, 'so

, as to open the main line conduit to the next station and close the branch conduit 12, and also tobreak the circuit 33, at another point Vby separating contact points 14 and 15, the parts taking the positions shown in Figs. l, 4 and 6.

Thereafter the coal from supply tanlcl, passes farther along through main line conduit 5, until it comes to the open switch valve 111, oi' the second storage bin 110, and passes down into said bin. After the amount which the supply station operators record shows is required for the second storage bin 110, has also been sent out, as indicated by the scale 2, said operator cuts out storage bin 110, by pulling the circuit breaker 135, and the material then passes on to the next storage bin, and so on. Figs. 1 and 1a, taken together show the system in the position assumed after bin 10, has been filled, and while bin 110, is being filled. The position of pointer 139, shows that bin 110, only needs a small amount of coal, having been found nearly full when the operator tested it. rlhe position of pointer 39, shows that bin 10, was nearly empty when the operator tested it, and the saine is true of bin 210.

The storage bin 210, at the end of the main line conduit 5, has no switch valve and is provided only with the gaging device consisting of the gage board 237, the pull cord 238, running over pulley 240- to the interior weight 241, and carrying the pointer 239, cooperating with the gage board 237. `When the central station operators record shows that the amount of coal necessary to fill all the storage bins, including the end one 210, has been sent out he simply shuts down his sending apparatus and goes about his other duties. 1f, through any oversight, he Jcontinues to send out pulverized coal, after the last bin has been lilled, it will simply blow od through the relieitl opening 242, and distribute itself around the surrounding neigl borhod untilV the exasperated inhabitants have telephoned in the to supply station to have the oversight rectified. ln the same way, the other storage bins are provided with relief outlets 42, 142, Src., through which surplus material will be discharged if the switch valve serving any bin is not closed after the bin has been filled. 1n this way any clogging up of the conduits and connected valves, such as would otherwise put the system out of operation, is avoided.

By the use of my invention the control and operation of the whole compressed air transportation system is concentrated in the hands of one man who soon becomes highly skilled therein, while the manipulation of the powdered coal controllers can be taken care of by the furnace men.

Having described my invention, vl claim:

l. In a fluid pressure transportation sys# tem comprising a main supply station, a plu rality of branch storage stations, a main line conduit leading from the supply station.. a branch conduit leading from said main line conduit to each branch Stora e station, means for forcing predetermine portions of the material at the supply station through the conduits to the branch stations, and switch valves at certain branch points controlling the branch and main line conduits at said points, the combination with said switch valves of a motor for automatically operating each of the valves, a resilient controlling device for eachl motor normally tending to assume the position which will cause the motor to operate its particular switch valve so as to close the branch conduit and open the main line conduit at that point, means .for restraining said controlling device in the opposite position of adjustment whereby the valve is operated to open the branch conduit and close the main line conduit at that point, and means operable from the supply station, by which any one or more of said controlling devices may be released from its restraining means.

2. An apparatus such as set forth in claim l combined with manually operated means for setting each control device in the position which will cause the, motor controlled by it to turn the corresponding switch valve into the. position which opens the branch conduit.

3. In a fluid pressure transportation system comprising a main supply station, a plurality of branch storage stations, a main line conduit leading from the supply station, branch conduits leading from said main line conduit to .each branch storage station, means for forcing predetermined portion-s of the material at the supply station through the conduits to the branch stations, and switch valves at certain branch points controlling the branch and main line conduits at said points, the combination with said switch valves of pneumatic motors operatively connected one to each of the switch valves, an air controlling Valve for each motor, a spring normally holding each air controlling valve in the position which operates the motor to turn Ithe switch valve so as to close the branch conduit and open the line conduit, means for turning said controlling valve against the flexure of the spring into the position which will operate the motor in the opposite direction, means brought into action when the switch valve is open to hold each air control valve in its last mentioned position against the pressure of its spring, and meansoperable from the supply station for independently disabling each of said holding means.

4. In' a fluid pressure transportation system comprising a main supply station, a plurality of branch storage stations, a main line .conduit leading from the supply station, a branch conduit leading from said main line conduit to each branch storage station, means Ifor forcing predetermined portions of the asomar material at the supply station through the conduits to the brano stations, and switch valves at certain branch points controlling the lbranch and main line conduits at said points, the combination with said switch Valves of pneumatic motors operatively connected one to each of the switch valves, an

'air controlling valve for each motor a spring normally holding each air controllmg valve in the position. which operates the motor to turn the switch valve so as to close the branch conduit and open the line conduit, a pull cord for turning each of said air control valves into its opposite position against the llexure of its spring, a brake drum on each valve, a coperating brake and a solenoid for actuating the same, a source of electric current and a circuit therefrom through each solenoid, a controller in each circuit oper` ated -by the corresponding switch valve to close the circuit when the switch valve has opened the branch conduit and to open ity when the switch valve has closed said branch conduit and opened the line conduit at that point, and a separate, manually operated controller for each said circuit, all of which controllers last mentioned are located at the supply station.

5. An apparatus such as set forth in claim l combined with means located at the supply station for indicating the amount of material sent out through the line conduit durin any given period of time.

6. i n apparatus such as set forth in claim l, combined with a telltale device for each switch valve adapted to show its position, which telltale devices are all located at the supply station.

7. An apparatus such as set forth in claim 4 combined with an electric lamp in each circuit, all of said lamps being located at the supply station near the manually opere ated circuit controllers.

8. The combination with a main line conduit, a series `of branch conduits' connected thereto, means for transporting pulveriz'ed material therethrough on a current of compressed air, a pipe for compressed air supply to said conduit extending along the same, and switch valves located at each branch point each controlling passage through the main line conduit and the branch at that point, of mechanism actuated by air from the compressed air pipe to operate the switch valves 'and controllmg devices for said mechanism located one near each branch point,

but all provided with connections through which they are operable from one point and individually operable from the respective branch points. r 9. In a system for transportation of Howmg materials by compressed air the combination w1th a supply station, a plurality of storage .stations each provided with blowoli' openings to the atmosphere, a main line conduit extending from the supply station to the farthest storage station, branch conduits from the main line conduit to the other and intermediate storage Stations, a switch valve controlling the junction of each branch conduit and the main line conduit, and means for forcing measured quant-ities of material from the supply station out through th'e conduits, of means controllable from the supply station actuating all said switch valves.

10. In a fluid pressure transportation sys tem comprising a main supply station, a plurality of branch storage stations, a main line conduit leading from the supply station, a branch conduit leading from said main llne conduit to each branch storage station,

means for forcing predetermined portions of the material at the supply station through the conduits to the branch stations, and

switch valves at certa-in branch points C0ntrolling the branch and main line conduits at said'points, the combination with each of said switch .Valves of mechanism normally tending to turn it into position to shut oil' the branch conduit and open the main line conduit, manually operated means for counteracting the normal tendency of the said mechanism and causing the valve to turn in the opposite direction, whereby the branch conduit is opened and the main line closed, electrically operated means for locking the valve in the last described position, a circuit for operating said electrical means extending to the supply station, a circuit cony troller for said circuit located at the supply station, and a second circuit controller in said circuit located near the valve.

WILLIAM O. RENKIN. 

